26 April 2012

Upcoming Events, This Weekend and Beyond UPDATED

Tight for time, most of you (if you've been reading here) should have had enough advance warning that you should have made advance plans.

Starting tonight: Max's Rare & Obscure Fest. Yes, yes, by national beer standards, one could easily make the case that every day is "rare and obscure" day at Max's Taphouse. But tonight through Saturday is an extended weekend for those who insist on trying to max out their tasting sheets or records for bragging rights. A reminder that all of the following will be parceled out over the next three days, and survivors may linger through Sunday and the early part of next week, if crowds or other events conflict with your desires:

CASKS

Flying
Dog Barrel aged Gonzo dry Hopped w/ Chipotle & Vanilla
Beans

Flying
Dog Woody Creek Wit dry Hopped w/ El Dorado

DuClaw
Five Hail Mary

Firestone Walker Velvet Merlin

Heavy
Seas Greater Pumpkin 2011

DRAFTS

21st
Amendment Lower De Boom

Black
Diamond Brandy Grand Cru

Black
Diamond Dried Up Geezer

Blue
Point Old Howling Bastard

De
Dolle Dulle Teve

Elysian
Arboreal

Elysian
Poison Dwarf

Elysian
Slight Return

Elysian
Perfesser

Elysian
The Dread

Hantversbryggeriet Munken

Hopfenstark Faust

Hopfenstark Captain Swing

L'Olmaia Karkade

Smuttynose Brett & I

Smuttynose Smuttonator 2011

Alvinne
Morpheous Wild Undressed

BFM
Spike & Jerome

De
Struise Pannepot Reserva 2008

De
Struise Pannepot Special Reserva 2009

DuClaw
Oak Aged Old Flame

Evil
Twin an Uncommon IPA

Evil
Twin Hop Flood

Evil
Twin Nurse Pepper

Evil
Twin Imperial Biscotti Break

Evil
Twin Monks Suffers Serious Sugar Rush On Barbados

Evolution Petit Houblon

Flying
Dog Barrel Aged Gonzo

Flying
Dog Horn Dog

Hambleton Nightmare

Hebrew
Funky Jewbelation

Hitachino Nest 3 Days

Hofstetten Kubelbier Zymatore Aged in Whiskey
Barrels

L'Qhilika African Dry Mead Zymatore Aged in Mourvedre
Barrels

Allagash Old HLT

Crispin
Marvin

De
Glazen Toren Zymatore Aged in Zinfandel Barrels

Emelisse Black & Tan

George
Gales Conquest Masterbrew 2000 Aged In Whiskey/Pinot Barrels

George
Gales Prize Old Ale 2001 Aged in Whiskey/Pinot Barrels

Olivsholt Lava

Oskar
Blues Gordon Aged in Wine Barrels

Schneider Brooklyner Hopfen Zymatore aged in Gin/Pinot
Barrels

Stillwater Bri Witter Weisse

Thornbridge Kipling Zymatore Aged in Belgian Owl
Whiskey Barrels

Troegs
Scratch # 57-Weizenbock

Troegs
Scratch #56-Single Hop pale

Troegs
Scratch #59-Mighty Moose MIld

Troegs
Scratch #60-Spring Fest Lager

Williams Bros Profanity Stout

Plus
Maybe one or two more.......you never know......

BOTTLES

Brew
Dog Nuclear Penguin

Brew
Dog Sink the Bismark

Brew
Dog Paradox Speyside 2009

Brew
Dog/Mikkeller Divine Rebel 2009

De
Molen Bommen & Granten 2010

De
Molen Heaven & hell 2008

Del
Ducato/3 Fontenien Beersel Mattina

Evil
Twin 9th Symphony

Evil
Twin Disco

Evil
Twin Hoekerens Jubilaeums Ol

Firestone Walker Sucaba

Firestone Walker XV Anniversary

Full
Sail Top Sail Bourbon Barrel Porter

George
Gales Jubilee 2002

George
Gales Prize Old Ale 1996

Goose
Island Night Stalker 2010

Haandbryggeriet Krokkebic

Hopfenstark Ostalgia Blonde

JW Lees
Harvest Ale in Calvados 2003

La
Trappe Oak Aged Isid'or

La
Trappe Oak Aged Quad Batch 6

Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel

Nogne O
Dark Horizon 3rd Edition

North
Coast Old Rasputin Barrel Aged XIV

Orkney
Dark Island Reserva 2007

Saint
Bock Sacrilege

Sam
Smiths Stingo 2008

Samichlaus 2010

The
Bruery Coton 2010

The
Bruery Cuir 2011

The
Bruery/Cigar City Marron Acidifie

Thomas
Hardy Ale 2004

Unibroue 15

Vapeur
D'Antan 1996

Meanwhile, we hope we need not remind you of the Pratt Street Real Ale Fest, the spring counterpart to the Chesapeake Real Ale Fest, in the newly-expanded Pratt Street Ale House:

The Casks

Brewdog – Paradox (Isle of Arran)

Brewers Alley – Oatmeal Stout

Brewers Art – Tiny Tim (VIP Cask)

Brewers Art – Monument Pale Ale

DuClaw – Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Flame

Evolution – Lot 3 IPA (Dry Hopped W/Citra)

Evolution – Rise Up Stout (VIP Cask)

Firestone Walker – Velvet Merlin

Yards – ESA (Extra Special Ale)

Oskar Blues – Deviant Dales Pale Ale (Double Dry Hopped)

Weyerbacher – Blanche

Flying Dog – TBA

Old Dominion – Oak Barrel Stout

Heavy Seas – Plank II (w/poplar, eucalyptus, and liberty hops)

Oliver Breweries – Jacobs Winter (Oak Barrel W/ Juniper)

Oliver Breweries – James Brown Ale (Red Oak Aged)

Oliver Breweries – Ape Must Never Kill Ape

New Belgium – Ranger IPA (Double Dry Hopped)

Flying Dog – TBA

Flying Fish – Hopfish (Dry Hopped W/Simcoe)

Dog Brewing – Blue Corn Triple

Still Many More To be Announced!!

In Annapolis, Saturday, April 28th: MD Drafts and Laughs: 50+
craft and imported beers while enjoying the region's funniest
comedians. Beer seminars throughout the evening in private tasting
rooms. Food and wine is available though not included in the fee. $35 in
advance, $40 at the door, $60 VIP. Details at 443-926-1464 or www.mddraftsandlaughs.com.

As if that's not enough for one weekend, consider the following for those for whom a Guinness doesn't taste right without an Irish music session in front of it: The first Baltimore Irish Trad Fest will be held at several locations in Baltimore over the three-day weekend, including J. Patrick's Irish Pub in Locust Point, James Joyce in Harbor East, and Liam Flynn's in Station North. More info here.

May 5th: Heavy Seas Blues at the Brewery, Halethorpe: International
blues artist Deanna Bogart will be performing with her band. Heavy Seas beer, and food concessions from Koopers Chowhound Wagon, will be available onsite for purchase. $20. 7:30-11pm. www.hsbeer.com/blues-brewery.

For the women reading this, the newly formed Baltimore Beer Babes will be hosting their first-ever gathering at Max's Taphouse at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, May 16 to gather a group of Baltimore women who are involved in the brewing industry, or just love great beer.
A $15 ticket will bring five beer samples, as well as light appetizers and the chance to connect with a group of women who want to learn more
about beer, the brewing process, food pairings and other educational
aspects regarding quality suds. Message @BaltoBeerBabes on Twitter or connect with their Facebook page for reservations. Seats are limited. SOLD OUT!

May 26-27: The Maryland Zoo's Brew at the Zoo. Go early to see the zoo animals (including beer-name animals like otters, rhinos, ruddy ducks, and elephants--and maybe a raven), them stick around to have the beer and eats.

Down in Millersville, Hellas Restaurant is holding an Ommegang-d'Achouffe Beer Dinner on May 30th, $65 per person:

$50 per person, $40 for Beer Club Members
Includes Beer Tasting from Each of the Participating Breweries,
Tasting Glass & Passed Hors D’oeuvres
Advance Purchase ONLY!
Pick up your ticket at the Pub, call 410-750-1880 or email heather@victoriagastropub.com

Way off in the District of Columbia in June, Sushiko, one of Washington's premier Japanese restaurants and sushi bars, will offer its first pairing event of Japanese cuisine and
craft beers. The six-course menu will be presented by owner and creative director of Sushi-ko, Daisuke Utagawa, together with beer expert Jocelyn Cambier. Priced at $85, all inclusive, the menu features >Edamame paired with Port City pale ale; Lobster and Asparagus Suimono
(clear soup) with Brasseurs Illimites double porter; Flounder Carpaccio
with White Soy and Truffle Sauce complemented by a surprise beer of
Brasseurs du Monde; Honey and Soy Roasted Duck with A lAbri de La
Tempete Corps Mort; Spicy Broiled Mussels and Coronado Islander IPA
and a final course of Nigiri Sushipaired with Brasseurs
Illimites Imperial Stout.This dinner will be Tuesday, June 26, 2012
at 7 PM, limited seating is available. For tickets please contact Gabriella Geerman
& Andrea Thompson at Sushiko (301) 961-1644

In the past, Casey has often sold super expensive beers like Nuclear Penguin or Sink the Bismark at close to normal retail mark-up (sometimes even a bit less). In fact, at the brewdog event I attended a couple years back, he was selling bottles of the Atlantic IPA at his cost. It was still ridiculously expensive, and I kick myself for being so stupid as to buy a bottle, but at least I didn't feel as if I was getting ripped off by paying normal bar mark-up.

I'm sure those two beers will still be over the top expensive (I don't plan to any this time around), but I blame that on brewdog, not Max's and Casey.

Was at the event yesterday evening and can now confirm the price. $150 and $200 a bottle respectively. I assume this will likely cause a stampede, with everyone running down to Max's to get a bottle or two of Sink the Bismark and Nuclear Penguin before they run out.